key tax return and refund dates
When can you file your taxes?
You can submit your tax return before the IRS begins processing as early as the first week of the year with many tax preparation providers. You don’t need to wait until the IRS begins accepting tax returns but you must have the proper forms and paperwork. Some forms are not available until mid January. Tax returns filed before the IRS officially opens sit in a “queue” and are held until the IRS officially begins accepting tax returns.
Your tax return may be selected in a test batch. If you e-file early and it sits in queue, your return may be sent to the IRS early. This can result in early direct deposits depending on the payment provider you select. Our cycle chart will update with key dates including test batch dates.
When does the IRS accept tax returns?
The IRS usually opens around the third week of January each year. They announce the opening date early in January.
The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on January 26, 2026.
When is the IRS test batch?
If you file your tax return early, it may be sent to the IRS in a test batch before the IRS has officially opened for the year. It is usually a week before the date the IRS begins accepting tax returns. This has resulted in refunds in the past that can be posted by direct deposit as early as the day after tax season opens.
When will I get my tax refund?
Early filers whose returns are accepted in a test batch can anticipate a tax refund as early as the day after the IRS opens the January filing season if your return was in the test batch. The day that the IRS deposits refunds varies for regular returns but we notice trends based on the method you chose to file and select to direct deposit. You can use our tax refund calendar or refund cycle chart to help find out when you will get your tax refund.
Where is the IRS refund cycle chart?
The IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
tax refund grapevine
This is a user-to-user community of taxpayers. Share experiences and ask questions below in our Live Discussion. We have learned more about tax refunds than we ever wanted to know.
tax refund tools
IRS Update Cycle
Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.
When are Updates?
The IRS has regular mass update cycles.
WHEN DOES WHERES MY REFUND (WMR) UPDATE?
Where’s My Refund can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Wednesday and Saturday when a lot of people see an update. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see updates on Where’s My Refund.
WHEN DO transcripts update?
Transcripts can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Tuesday and Friday. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see an update on your transcript.
@JazzyBelle253: Yes, I am pretty sure it just means that haven’t processed your return yet. If you were just accepted recently it probably wont update until next week sometime. Mine says the same and I was just accepted on 1/21
@Introvert_taxtime: thats what i was hoping to hear by filing early and not waiting until the holds lifts. im still waiting on my wife’s w-2 to arrive and then i can file.
@vanessaa: It may go ahead and process without an issue but if it will make a difference on the amount of the refund, definitely amend after you get your refund.
@Jay: I filed Feb 1st last year and received my return on the 16th!
I plan on filing on February 3rd this year.
* I pay fees upfront and I’m path
@Honeybee82: omg this is what scares me lol. I want to leave TT for freetax but don’t want to get flagged for anything. I still haven’t filed bc I’m trying to decide what way to go.😂
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt me again, because I changed my tax preparer this year. I used TT last year and H&R this year, only because TT was calculating my refund to be like $800 less than H&R…even though I had the exact same information entered in both. For some reason TT was shorting me and I couldn’t figure out why, so I went with H&R lol
@Honeybee82: I had to ID verify last year too. This year I did not change anything, last year I changed banking info and that’s why I was flagged.
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: same here! I just got my text that the IRS accepted my return, and I filed two days ago. I’m on PATH too, so I know I have to wait regardless….but I hope to see updates on my transcripts next week. I had to ID Verify last year, so I just want the validation that it’s going smoothly for me this year 😆
I recently did my taxes and I remembered about a job I had for about 6 months and didnt get w2 for it. I recently did them with my new w2 from my recent job. Will this put my refund behind, I was accepted already yesterday did them on 1/22. Will I not get my money
Just got noticed that my return was accepted by IRS. I was trying to miss the boat on the early filers this year. I’m a weekly and path walker so I do not anticipate an update until the 7th of February. I typically miss the 1st round of updates for whatever reason.
@ChelleWV: you can actually go back and amend your prior three years and claim him as well!!
@ChelleWV: absolutely! So long as you supply over half of his living expenses
Help…LOL! I was just advised by a friend that I can claim my brother in law that lives with my husband and I. He is mentally handicap and receives SSDI. He has received this since he was a child. I got custody of him in 2012. I thought I could not claim him since he receives SSDI. Any advise? I just want to confirm prior to filing. Thank you in advance to anyone that can help!
@TheMadness21: Yes
the past many years, ive always waited until on or around Feb 15 to file because of the PATH Act and i usually get my refund a couple weeks after.. ive heard though if you file up to a week before the act lifts that your return, since it is already accepted, processes through when the act lifts and gets approved, you get your refund the following week instead of two weeks.. is there any truth to that? has anyone who filed that week prior to the 15th had their refund processed quicker?
@TheMadness21: yes
@shelleybeanss: I swear the IRS hate me .. I been weekly since I first did a tax return when I was 18 .. 12 whole years ago smh
Crap I forgot that since I am secondary…my info is not as visible🤭
Is anyone’s as of date on their 2023 still sitting at 01/13/2025 just wonder what’s going on I’ve been trying not to watch but its almost that time so the anxiety is starting to kick in.
@John-Jaw: That’s what I got too but I didn’t know if that was only for me because I’m not the primary taxpayer on the return. So I’ll have to check if my husband got that as well.
@NYkhidd: I feel like us weeklies get less stability in the system 😂 at least it feels that way. Been a weekly for 10 plus years. Hate it 😂